Household-furniture



(Normaal.)

` I'. SHANNON.

` HOUSEHOLD FURNIIURE.

No. 331.163. Patented Nov. 24.1885.

N. Punts. mamimmpw. vll-nimo". ac,

A zen of the United States, residing at Middleany person acquainted with the construction UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

FRANK SHANNON, OF MIDDLEIORT, OHIO.

HOUSEHOLD- FURNITURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.. 331,163, dated November 24, 1885.

Application filed August 11, 1885.

T0 all whom, t may cci/accru:

Be it known that I, FRANK SHANNON, a citiport, in the county of Meigs and State ofOhio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Household-Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in household-furniture, and the object thereof is to provide a bureau, dressing-ease, desk, sideboard, or other similar article with a secret repository or concealed safe, the construction being such that its presence is secured from observation, while at the same time it is readily accessible to the owner or to and provided with the necessary key or keys. It is also my purpose to provide articles of furniture of the class mentioned with a secret repository or concealed strong boX, fastened by a suitable key or other lock, and so hid den that its presence will not be detected by the opening of the drawers, doors, or other parts of the article with which it is combined, the screening plate or portion being held in place by a lock or by a spring-catch, which may be concealed from view.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a perspective view of a bureau in which my invention is embodied. Fig. 2 is a front elcvation of the lower portion thereof. Fig. 3 is detail view of the screening-plate detached. Fig. et is a view showing a modified construction.

In the said drawings, the referencenumeral I designates a bureau having drawers 2 and 3 of the usual construction. In the space usually occupied by the upper drawer, I place two, three, or more drawers, 4, separated from each other by side guides. At one end of the space, in that portion thereof which would be occupied by one of these short drawers, if a full complement thereof were used, I place a metallic safe or strong boX, 5, of any suitable construction, which may be permanently or removably placed in said space. The safe 5 may have one or more drawers; or

Serial No. 174,121. (No model.)

it may be provided with a door fastened either by a key or combination-lock,whichever may be preferred. Its dimensions are such that it fits said space, and its front end is set in a distance equal to the thickness oi' the drawerfront. The safe or secret repository is concealed from viewby a screening-plate, 6,which, in form and dimensions as well as in ornamentation, is an exact duplicate of the front of each of the short drawers 4 in the same series. This plate is mounted upon or rigidly attachcd to a section, 7, of the corner-post 7, and it may have a spline, 8, upon each edge sliding in grooves inthe upper and lower bars, 9. The joints between the ends ofthe section 7 and the post 7a' are so formed that they are concealed from observation, and the screenplate is provided with a lock and key-hole, as shown, so that when in place it resembles the other drawenfronts. In this manner the presence of the strong boX is effectuallyconcealed, and it affords a safe repository for `jewelry and other articles of Value.

In the modied construction shownin Fig. 4. the construction isin some respects substantially similar, the chief difference being as follows: In the central portion of the space usually occupied by the upper drawer I pla-ce the strong box 5 formed in the manner described. 'Ihis box may be made removable; or,itI preferred, it may be securely and permanently fastened in place. In the former construction it may open at the top by a lid or at either cud; but in the case of the latterit will open at the outer end or side only, and may be fastened by an ordinary key-lock or by a combination-lock. The repository is of such dimensions that when in place its front lies wholly within the plane of the drawer-front, leaving space for the application of a screening-plate, (i, which may be attached by forming in its lower edge a groove, l2, which engages with a bead-molding, 13, upon the dividing-strip between the upper and the second drawer, and mounting on its upper part a suitable lock, the bolt of which engages with a socket in t-hc top.

In both forms of construction shown the screening-plate is rendered entirelyT independent of the adjacent drawers, either of which may be opened without disturbing it or dis- IOO closing the presence of the safe, while on the other hand access may be had to the repository without removing or opening the drawers or either of them.

The screening-plate may, if desired, be eX- tended laterally to form a flush joint with each drawer-front. It is preferable, however, to provide a transverse strip upon each side, having any suitable exterior ornamentation, and insert the plate between them.

If preferred, the screening-plate may be secured by a secret spring-catch, the position and operation of which are known only to the owner or to those to whom he may communicate it.

I am aware that bureaus have been provided with sliding secret drawers looked in vplace by concealed fastenings, which can only be operated to release the secret drawer by withdrawing the main drawer of the bureau.

I am also aware that a combined bureau, Wardrobe, and wasl1-stand has been provided with movable panels concealing spaces which serve as receptacles for a towel-rack and bootblaeking articles. Such constructions therefore I do not elairn.

1. In a bureau or other article of furniture, a secret repository or concealed safe arranged within one of the divisions thereof, and aseparable independent screening-plate having its front ornamented and paneled to correspond with the front of said article of furniture and adapted to engage therewith by grooves formed in the drawer-strips thereof, substantially as described.

2. In a bureau or other article of furniture, a secret safe or concealed repository arranged within one of the end divisions thereof and concealed by a screening-plate mounted on or rigidly attached to a section of the cornerpost, said plate sliding in grooves in the drawer-strips, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK SHANNON.

Vitn esses:

JOHN B. DowNING, MILLER R. DowNING. 

